PARKLAND – Pacific Lutheran Hall of Fame tennis coach Mike Benson – the man who coined the phrase "It's a GREAT day to be a Lute!" – passed away Tuesday morning. He was 68 years old.
Benson coached the Pacific Lutheran men's tennis program for 30 years, winning at least a share of 24 Northwest Conference championships and appearing in 20 NAIA National Tournaments during that stretch. He compiled a 400-196 all-time record, and he added 90 wins during six seasons as head coach of the Lute women's team. But as competitive as he was, all that on-court success was secondary to the impact he had off the court.
"Mike was a guy who didn't coach the X's and O's as much as he coached the person, and that really at the end of the day is what made him successful," PLU men's tennis alum and former women's tennis coach Rusty Carlson said. "You knew he cared about you. A lot of that translated into wins, but that's not because that's what he was after. He was after your character and your heart. The other things mattered more, and because they did, winning always came as a byproduct."
Carlson played for Benson in the 1980s and shared an office with the PLU men's tennis coach as he led the women's squad for 10 years. As a player, he recalled the unique travel experience of driving all the way to Kansas City in vans for the NAIA National Tournament and spending countless nights on the floors of Lutheran churches. He also recalled the unique coaching approach of Benson that included basketball, racquetball and ultimate Frisbee indoors on rainy days that prevented practice on the outdoor courts. According to Carlson, Benson would always maintain a positive attitude with the comment, "We'll be better tomorrow!"
Benson was born March 12, 1947, in Miles City, Mont. Growing up, he lived in LaGrande, Ore., Yakima and Spokane, and he graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1965. He came to PLU in 1965 as a men's tennis player and helped win the 1967 district doubles championship. In that time the PLU men's tennis team struggled to field a full six-man lineup and would recruit other student-athletes to fill in the back spots on the ladder. Once Benson took over the program in 1970, those days quickly gave way to an era of unprecedented success. His team first won a conference title in 1972, and that sparked a string of 14 titles in 15 seasons. The Lutes did not lose a conference match from 1974 through 1985, winning 60 consecutive matches. His team would repeat that feat by not losing a match between 1992 and 1998.
Fellow PLU Hall of Fame tennis player and coach Craig Hamilton expressed similar feelings about Benson, saying that "he was always more excited about the success of other people than himself. It was never about him; it was always about helping other people be successful. He was very authentic. He was real. He loved to win, but he was a gracious winner and a gracious loser. And he was also a wonderful, Godly husband, father and grandfather."
After retiring from PLU in 1999, Benson briefly coached at California Lutheran University. His three seasons coaching the Regals' women's tennis team left him with 518 combined wins between coaching men's and women's tennis at PLU and CLU. After moving back to the Puget Sound area, he remained involved in the PLU tennis programs.
"His life philosophy verse was Psalm 100:4: 'I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His courts with praise,'" Hamilton said. "Mike maybe took some liberties with the words in applying it the tennis courts, but he lived that out. He was the most thankful, content, gracious person I've ever met. He shared that with his players. That was part of the magic of PLU tennis was his joy all the time."
Benson battled melanoma and a heart condition, bringing about his declining health. Even so, he was present at the October PLU Hall of Fame induction of Hamilton, sharing his signature joy with all around him at the recognition of the greatness of Lute sports. Even with all the statistics and on-court success, his declaration that "It's a GREAT day to be a Lute" and the joy behind it will likely stand as his most memorable contribution to Pacific Lutheran Athletics.
Benson is survived by his wife Mary, his daughters Kristi and Kaaren and their husbands, and five grandchildren. A "Celebration of Life" service is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m. at Rainier View Christian Church, 12305 Spanaway Loop Rd S, Tacoma. The family encourages casual dress, particularly tennis or baseball attire. There will be ice cream and cookies after the service as Benson loved potlucks, so attendees are invited to bring a small plate of cookies to share.
More about Coach Benson:
Rusty Carlson, PLU women's tennis coach 1987-96: "The way he touched people, the breadth and scope by which he touched people's lives really speaks to the man that he was, the character that he had, and what made him who he was, was his faith in Jesus. He tried to live out being a follower in a real way every day, and that just made a huge impact on so many people's lives. He's the finest man I've ever known."
Craig Hamilton, PLU tennis coach 1999-2011: "I describe Mike as the John Wooden of small-college tennis. He was unparalleled in his success both on and off the court as a tennis coach. I've had the privilege of having some amazing people in my life all the way through, and I would put Mike on the top of the list in terms of having the most impact on my life and lives of everyone around him."
Nick Dawson, PLU former sports information director: "Mike was, simply, the finest man I have ever known. He was a great example of what it looks like when Jesus gets hold of your life. I was privileged to call him my friend."
